Guides · 26 October 2026
Wedding dress codes explained: what each one means and how to tell your guests
The short answer: a wedding dress code tells guests how formal you expect them to dress. Put it in one sentence, with a concrete example, and say so even if there isn't one. What stresses guests isn't dressing up; it's not knowing what's expected.
The most common wedding dress codes
| Dress code | Typically | When it's used |
|---|---|---|
| White tie | Tailcoat; floor-length evening gown | Very rare, ultra-formal evenings |
| Black tie | Tuxedo; floor-length or very formal dress | Formal evening weddings |
| Black tie optional | Tuxedo or dark suit; long or elegant cocktail dress | Formal, with some flexibility |
| Cocktail / semi-formal | Suit, tie optional; knee or midi-length dress | Most afternoon and evening weddings |
| Smart casual | Blazer or shirt, no tie; summer dress or smart separates | Beach, garden, relaxed weddings |
If the wedding is in Spain
Spanish weddings tend to dress up more than guests from the UK or the US expect, and they run late: dinner at nine or ten, dancing until the early hours. Traditionally a morning suit is for daytime and a tuxedo for the evening, and long dresses are for afternoon or evening weddings. Say so clearly, especially for guests flying in, and add a line about comfortable shoes if there's grass, sand or cobbles.
How to word it so nobody has to guess
A good dress code has three parts:
- The name: "Black tie", "Cocktail"…
- An example: "Dark suit and tie; long or cocktail dress."
- The practical bit: "The ceremony is on the lawn, so leave the stilettos at home" or "It gets cool at night."
Examples to copy:
- "Black tie optional. Tuxedo or dark suit; long or elegant cocktail dress. Lawn ceremony: block heels are your friend."
- "Cocktail. No tie required. It gets cool after sunset, so bring a layer."
- "Smart casual. It's a beach wedding: linen, sandals and dancing shoes."
- "No dress code. Come as you feel great. We only ask that you leave white to the bride."
What it's fair to ask (kindly)
- Avoid white and ivory, if the bride is wearing white.
- A colour or theme, only if it really matters to you, and with room to move ("earth tones" beats "sage green").
- Footwear for the ground: grass, sand or cobblestones change everything.
Where to put it
On the invitation, a couple of words ("Black tie") are enough. On the website, the full explanation: on Weddara it's in the editor's "For your guests" step, in the "Dress code (optional)" field, and it appears alongside the rest of the practical info. If your site is in several languages, you can write the dress code in each.
No dress code? Don't leave it blank: "No dress code" answers the question too. For everything else worth including, see the 9 sections every wedding website needs.
Start your website for free and see how your dress code looks in the preview.